I have 30 hours worth of footage shot on a Canon GL2 using Sony tape. I've had to have the camera repaired three times in the last six months so I'm considering buying a Sony camera as a replacement. I know from reading other posts that playing back Canon tapes on a Sony will not work reliably so I'm wondering what my options are. Obviously, I could buy a deck of some sort but that's a little pricey for my situation. Is there another option I'm missing?

Thanks for any advice.

If you used Sony tapes on the GL2 and are now looking at purchasing a Sony camera, that will mean using the Sony tapes in a Sony camera. What's the problem?

I have hours of footage shot on a GL2 recaptured using my Sony FX1, some on TDK tapes, others on Sony tapes and still others on JVC tapes. I've had no problem with it.

The (potential) problem was as I noted in the first post. Others have commented that they'd had trouble playing back GL2 footage on a Sony not because of mechanical incompatibility but because there is some difference in the frames-per-second speed between the two. If, as you say, Ben Winter, you've played back GL2 footage using a Sony without a problem, then I'll try that first.

Thanks for your help.

A local editor had several HDV tapes shot on a Canon. They rented my V1U to use for playback but for some reason, it wouldn't work. I wasn't there so I can't address the issues.

I know from reading other posts that playing back Canon tapes on a Sony will not work reliably so I'm wondering what my options are.

You shouldn't have any issues, since GL2 is a miniDV camera. miniDV is miniDV. You may be confusing some compatibility issues between the two when HDV and differing framerates are involved, but not with miniDV.